Gwoup Konbit Launches the National Konbit Guide Campaign:
“Applying the Values and Principles of Konbit”
Written by Gwoup Konbit
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – August 20, 2025 – The social movement Gwoup Konbit has officially launched the National Konbit Guide Campaign under the theme “Applying the Values and Principles of Konbit.” This initiative aims to place Haiti’s traditional values of solidarity at the heart of the country’s development and to promote collective action as a tool for rebuilding Haiti on the foundations of sustainability and social justice.
More than 60 community leaders and around 20 organizations and institutions participated in the virtual launch held on Zoom. Among them were Roots of Development (technical and financial partner, with the support of the Vitol Foundation), CLE Haiti (Center for Leadership and Excellence), the Odette Roy Fombrun Foundation, Rasin Devlopman, Leaders de Demain, Konbit San Pou San, and Le Paradis Haïtien, among others.
Leaders from Hinche, Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel, Jérémie and other regions of Haiti were present, along with members of the Haitian diaspora from Canada, the United States, and Africa. Together, they reflected on how each organization and sector can contribute to this national campaign.
A Guide Born from the Grassroots
Louino Robillard, co-founder of Gwoup Konbit, recalled the historic origins of the Konbit movement, born in 2011, with a strong conviction: Haiti’s development must be built with everyone, by placing Haitians as the principal actors of their own development. It is in this spirit that the Konbit Guide was created, as a methodological tool to support social and community transformation.
Drafted over the past four years, the guide is the product of contributions from more than 300 community leaders across the country. According to Rubson Brumaire, one of the coordinators of the drafting process, it has been a sustained and determined effort:
“We were able to count on more than 30 leaders within the technical team, coordinated by Dr. Patrick Honoré, who worked day and night on this project. Their determination ensured a constant momentum, without any pause.”
Andy Vibert, who moderated the launch event, emphasized the urgency of reinforcing solidarity in Haiti’s current context:
“The Konbit Guide is not just a book, it is a tool capable of orienting the country toward a new direction.”
What the Konbit Guide Offers
The Konbit Guide is not limited to theory; it captures knowledge and practices rooted in Haiti’s lived experiences. Readers will find key elements such as:
- A historical overview of Konbit, tracing its cultural and social origins.
- Insights into the variety of Konbit practices in other countries and traditions of solidarity.
- A detailed presentation of the core values and principles of Konbit.
- The 10 practical steps for organizing and carrying out a successful Konbit within a community.
The guide will be made available in multiple formats, written, oral, visual, and digital, ensuring accessibility to all sectors of Haitian society.
Voices from our Partners
Several partners also spoke to express their commitment:
Chad Bissonnette, President of Roots of Development:
“We are committed to supporting Konbit at every level, to helping attract partners, mobilize resources, and carry this message to the diaspora and the international community.”
Marie Claude Bayard, daughter of the founder of the Odette Roy Fombrun Foundation:
“My mother would have been happy to see this great Konbit movement flourish in this way. She always believed that Konbit is the tool that can take Haiti out of its endless crisis.”
Paulix Louis, representative of CLE Haiti:
“CLE is ready to get involved so that this work can go further, because Konbit is a methodology capable of transforming the vision of development in this country.”
A 12-Month Campaign Across Haiti
The campaign will run for 12 months (2025–2026) and aims to:
- Reach all 10 departments and approximately 100 communes, out of a total 146.
- Organize 120 training workshops based on the Konbit Guide.
- Mobilize all communication channels: radio, television, social media, schools, churches, peristyles, and the diaspora.
- Create a database of Konbit practices to encourage collaboration and resource sharing.
The Role of the Diaspora
The active participation of diaspora members from Canada, the US, and Africa at the launch underscored their crucial role. Gwoup Konbit views the diaspora as a key partner in the campaign and in Haiti’s broader development: a channel for disseminating the message, a mobilizer of resources, and a strategic partner to strengthen local initiatives.
A Call to the Whole Society
The launch of the campaign marks an important step in rebuilding social trust. Gwoup Konbit calls on all sectors of society, students, professionals, religious leaders, local organizations, and the diaspora, to actively participate.
The closing message resonated as a national call to action:
“Se ansanm nou fò – Together we are strong. Konbit is not only a tradition, it is a path to building the Haiti we want.”